From Korea! The Magic Spray That Stops Bleeding in One Second: What Is the Full Scope of This Technology?

Bleeding is a situation where the time until it becomes life-threatening is extremely short. Traffic accidents, disaster sites, deep lacerations from knives or falls—"the few minutes delay in stopping the bleeding" can determine life or death, not just in emergency situations but also in everyday life. As a technology that might significantly shorten these "first few minutes," the "powder spray-type hemostatic agent" announced by the Korean research institution KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) is gaining attention[1][2].

What happens in one second: The powder transforms into a "shape-conforming gel" upon contact with blood

According to reports, when this hemostatic agent is sprayed on a wound, the powder transforms into a gel the moment it comes into contact with blood, sealing the bleeding site like a "plug." Moreover, the reaction is said to occur in "less than one second," aiming to stop the outflow before applying gauze or bandages for compression[1][2].

The key point is that it is a powder, not a flat sheet (patch). It is designed to "fill and adhere along the shape" of complex-shaped injuries such as deep gouges, jagged lacerations, and hard-to-reach areas[2][3].

Inside "AGCL": A combination of natural-derived materials

The materials are described as a composite of naturally derived components. The following three are commonly mentioned in reports and announcements[1][2][3].

• Alginate: A polysaccharide derived from brown algae.

• Gellan gum: A fermentation-derived thickening polysaccharide.

• Chitosan: A polysaccharide derived from crustaceans, expected to interact with blood components.

According to KAIST's news release, alginate and gellan gum react with cations such as calcium in the blood to form a super-fast gel, while chitosan binds with blood components to assist in chemical and biological hemostasis[2]. In other words, it is designed not only to "absorb and seal" but also to simultaneously "solidify and adhere" by utilizing the blood environment.

Absorbs, seals, and is hard to peel off: Practicality-focused metrics

In research presentations and secondary reports, several metrics are introduced to indicate performance. For example, by creating a three-dimensional structure inside the powder, it is said to be able to absorb more than seven times its weight (about 725%) in blood, making it easier to block the flow even in cases of massive bleeding[2][3].

Additionally, compared to existing commercial hemostatic agents, it is mentioned to have **high sealing performance and adhesive strength (over 40kPa)**, aiming to withstand pressure equivalent to being strongly pressed by hand[2][3].

Furthermore, animal experiments have shown favorable findings in tissue regeneration, reduced bleeding volume and hemostasis time in liver injury models, and functional recovery in two weeks[2][3]. These points support the narrative that it "not only stops bleeding but may also contribute to wound healing."

"Usable on site" is the key: Shelf life and environmental resistance

In emergencies, disasters, and battlefields, it's not just performance that matters. It must be readily available, immediately usable, and resistant to heat, cold, and humidity. KAIST claims that this powder maintains its performance for about two years even in high humidity at room temperature, strongly considering operation in harsh environments[2]. InfoMoney's article also summarizes that it "remains effective in high temperature and humidity" and "can be stored at room temperature for two years"[1].

If this is truly strong, it expands the imagination that it could "potentially be included" not only in emergency and military kits but also in remote clinics, disaster stockpiles, and even home first aid kits.

However, it's not immediately available: The barriers of regulations and additional testing

On the other hand, there is no clear answer to the question of "when will it be released" at this point. InfoMoney reports that no official outlook has been provided regarding the timing of general availability[1].

Hemostatic agents have varying approval processes depending on their classification as medical devices or pharmaceuticals and their intended use (trauma, surgery, military, etc.), and clinical data accumulation is also necessary. Additionally, in actual operation, questions such as "who handles it in massive bleeding situations," "what if the affected area is not visible," and "how to handle it if it enters the body" need to be addressed in designing field procedures. The more "amazing" the technology is, the more preparation is needed on the medical and institutional sides for its widespread adoption.

Reactions on social media: A mix of expectations and criticisms

This topic has spread as news, with reactions divided on social media and in comment sections. For example, in the comment section of a New Atlas article, the straightforward desire for it is expressed.

There is a comment saying, "Every first aid kit should have some!," reflecting expectations for home use[4].

On the other hand, since the motivation for development lies in battlefield medicine, there are also clashes of values. In response to a researcher's statement (conscious of saving lives in war), there is a sarcastic comment, "You'd save a lot more lives with peace." [4]. While the technology itself is praised, the complex emotions towards its background are typical of the internet.

Ideas for applications also emerge. In the comment section, there is a somewhat fanciful suggestion, "Can it be incorporated into the lining of clothing?," indicating expectations for "automatic hemostasis" in dangerous environments[4].

Meanwhile, there are also the usual skepticism and jokes. There is a post with a personal anecdote-style comment, "Wouldn't potato flour have the same effect?," which is a typical "folk remedy anecdote" that appears in new technology news (of course, this should be taken as the personal opinion of the comment poster)[4].

On LinkedIn, it is introduced in a relatively formal context as a "breakthrough in life-saving," with bullet-point sharing of its usability as a technology, such as shelf life (2 years) and absorption performance (7 times)[5].

In summary, general comment sections are filled with emotions and chit-chat, while business SNS focuses on key points and expectations. The way a topic gains traction varies depending on the platform.

This is not a "magic spray," but a tool to buy time for saving lives

Finally, it is important to emphasize that the goal of such hemostatic agents is not to "complete treatment" but to "buy time until reaching the hospital." Stopping bleeding, delaying shock, and connecting to transfusions or surgery—the faster this bridge is crossed, the higher the chances of survival.

If something like AGCL, which "sprays and works in one second," is established in clinical settings, it could potentially change the norms of emergency care. However, because its impact is significant, there remains the process of additional testing, approval, operational design, and education to complete it as a practical tool. After the excitement of the news, what follows is the long and tedious phase of "implementation." Once that is overcome, this one second could truly become the "first second" for saving many lives.

Source URLs

[1] InfoMoney (Agência O Globo distribution) article: Overview of the development entity (KAIST), hemostasis in less than one second, materials (alginate, gellan gum, chitosan), shelf life (2 years), and current lack of general availability timeline
https://www.infomoney.com.br/saude/cientistas-desenvolvem-spray-que-estanca-hemorragias-em-menos-de-um-segundo/

[2] KAIST News Center (official release): Aim of the powder-type hemostatic agent (battlefield, disaster, etc.), hydrogel barrier formation in one second, reaction with cations like calcium, absorption (over 7 times), mention of safety indicators and animal experiments, shelf life (2 years)
https://news.kaist.ac.kr/newsen/html/news/?mng_no=56690&mode=V

[3] Medical Xpress (secondary report): Summary of research content, absorption rate (725%), adhesive strength (over 40kPa), animal experiments, liver injury model, paper information (Advanced Functional Materials/DOI mentioned)
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-sprayable-powder-instant-gel-barrier.html

[4] New Atlas (article + comment section): Examples of general reader reactions ("should be in first aid kits," "peace saves more lives," etc.), general explanation of materials and reaction mechanisms
https://newatlas.com/medical-tech/battlefield-wound-spray/

[5] LinkedIn post (TEDxGateway): Key point sharing on the business SNS side (1-second hemostasis, 7x absorption, 2-year stability, etc.)
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tedxgateway_medicalinnovation-lifesavingtech-futureofmedicine-activity-7422243305968652288-5GKK